Members of University staff, alongside Your Union, met with Parent & Carer Students to discuss the challenges they're facing.
Why was the meeting called?
On Thursday the 4th February 2021, University and Union Staff met with Parent & Carer Students to discuss the extra challenges they're facing during the current national lockdown.
With Primary and Secondary Schools only remaining open for the children of key workers (or the very vulnerable), many of our students have the added pressures of childcare to add into their study and work commitments, leading to discussion and sharing of concern via the Mature, Parent & Carer Network Facebook group
Anthony Wallace, one of Your Officer Team, coordinated a meeting between the Students' Union's Voice Team and representatives from the University's Regulations & Compliance and Wellbeing Services Support Teams. It was held at 8 pm in order to help those with younger children to attend after bedtime routines, but this update (as well as asking questions prior to the discussion) is also available for those who couldn't make it.
What was the outcome?
Everyone understands the additional pressures our Parent & Carer students are facing, with everyone present acknowledging the hard work and dedication of all of our students who continue to persevere through these strange and difficult times. The Union and University Teams present gave an overview of the support currently in place, focusing on Exceptional Circumstances (or EC's) and Emergency Regulations as well as highlighting the different teams of staff who are on hand to support throughout the pandemic (you can find more info on our Covid webpages).
Conversation then moved to those Parents & Carers present asking more specific questions, which are detailed below. Broad advice for everyone? If you're struggling, talk to someone. Speak with your Course Team (lecturers) or reach out to the Union's Advice Team if you need help, and remember to apply for Exceptional Circumstances if you feel it's appropriate.
Read on for the details and specifics of different scenarios discussed at last night's meeting, and please join the Facebook group if you haven't done so already - we'll be scheduling more Q&A and get-together events over the coming weeks.
We'll also be working with the University to collate information, resources, and support that's relevant to Parent & Carers in one place (though for now, there's plenty of links at the end of this article!).
As well as this - the four students who will be attending this year's NUS National Conference have submitted a motion that asks NUS to lobby for better support for parent and carer students in the future.
What were students' queries?
Q: Will emergency regulations support to continue beyond lockdown in order to support parents who may have extra responsibilities due to classes being closed (i.e. positive tests in their class)
A: Yes they will. The emergency regulations have been applied for the entirety of this academic year. For this example, a self-certification for EC's would still apply (no evidence required.
Q: Is there a limit on how many times you can ask for extensions? (Can you get EC's on multiple assessments?)
A: Yes. EC's are there to help students who need support despite having done everything they can to complete work.
Q: Is there a minimum time prior to an assessment that you can submit an EC's application?
A: Before an assessment is key to the application, though there'll be appropriate consideration depending on a students' circumstances (i.e. if you are about to log in to deliver your assessment presentation and then a child falls ill)
Q: People are concerned about being able to complete, but not to the best of their ability?
A: Submit an application if you feel your circumstances will affect your grade and we can start the discussion to make sure appropriate support measures are in place - even if EC's aren't right for you in your situation (e.g. condonement - you may be allowed to pass with a lower mark than usually accepted).
Q: Can you resit an assignment when you are unhappy with your grade if you feel it has been affected by Covid-19 or the lockdown?
A: No. Resits are only applied in response to an EC being applied due to unforeseen circumstances. If you've done your best but aren't happy with a grade, you can't simply have another go.
Q: Financial concerns about retakes or resits?
A: We don't charge for resits unless it is to retake the entire year.
Q: Can I apply for EC's after I receive my grade?
A: No. EC's aren't an insurance policy, they are a request for support with an issue that is affecting a student in the lead into an assignment.
Q: Courses that need lots of lectures during the day can be really challenging to engage with, making catching up of an evening very difficult.
A: Students need to speak with their course teams and the Student Guidance Team
Q: I'm struggling to access resources and need access to textbooks or journals.
A: Contact the library - they have a LibLab chat function - as they can copy and print resources to share with you if need be and have other services (like click & collect) that may help
Q: It has been difficult to sit exams due to the time you have to take them or the distractions we have, can I use EC's if I am unable to take the exam?
A: There would be the opportunity to defer an exam, as if you were taking it for the first time, depending on your circumstances. Make sure you talk to your course Team and apply for EC's if you feel it's appropriate.
Q: Practical assessments being crammed into the Easter Break.
A: Unfortunately there isn't a straightforward solution to this. Because campus access is current legally blocked for the majority of students, there is only a certain window within which access to practical resources can be accessed.
Links and References
Have something to say about being a parent or carer student? Get in touch at union@staffs.ac.uk or have your say: